Wireless signaling system.



SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED 0G1. 29. 1907.

J apfif J. L. JONES. WIRELESS SIGNALING SYSTEM.

APPLICATION nun mum, 190a.

I'VITNESSES:

A 7701mm;

PATENTEDOCT. 29. 100?.

I. L. JONES. WIRELESS SIGNALING SYSTEM.

2 SHEETS-SHEET '2 PATEST OFFICE.

JOSEPH L. JONES, OF 'KIZER, TENNESSEE.

WIRELESS SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Ho. sewn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 29, 1907.

Application filed August 24. 1906- Bsrisl Ho. 331.934.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, Jossrn L. Jones, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kizer, in the countyci Blount and State of Tennessee, have invented a new and useful Wireless Signaling System, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to systems oi intcrcommunication between moving raiiway trains, or between trains and stations, and has for its principal object to provide 1 wireless system of communication in which provision is mode for automatically signaling the approach of trains to each other or to stations.

A further object of the nvention is to provide a system which may be operatecleither automatically or 16 manually for the sending of signals, or for the sending mined period of time, and then will be Automatically cut out.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. novel form of receiving mechanism int-inclin n relay and circuit controlling devices, which together with the decoherer are placed under the control of an alarm mechanism. A still further object of the invention is to provide a signal sending means operable at predetermined intervals by the movement of some portion of the engine or 8 0 train A still further object of the invention is to provide it circuit closing member that is under the control of tho ctohs bend or other movable member of the engine and serves to close the signaling circuit at regular periods as I the trains advance.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a. novel form of circuit closing device.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus of this'type in which provision is inadc for 46 preventing the reception of a signal at the station which issending. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide an lpparatus of this class in which the dccohcrcr ishcld from movement fora. predetermined period of time and 46 then is allowed to operate in order to brcnk the circuit With these and other objects in view, as will more fully hereinafter appear, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangements of plrts, hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the ac- SO companying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that verious changes in the form, proportions, size and minor details of the structure may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:-Figure l is A view in the nature of a diagram showing the application of the invention to two approaching trains. Fig. 2 is-au elevation on a larger sca e of the coherer and dccoherer, parts being broken aw-sy in order to more clearly illustmte the invention. Fig. 3 is an elevation of the mechanism for timing the operation of the decoh-erer. Fig. 4 is a front elevationoi the mechanism that is operated by the engine or train for the purpose of closing the signaling circuit. Fig. 5 is a transverse sections} vicw'oi the same on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a similar view on the line 6 -6 oi Fig. & showing the revoluble commutater or circuit clo er in locked position, Fig. 7 is a similar view showing the some in release position and moving for the purpose of closing a circuit. .Fig. 8 is a detail perspective view of the ccrumumt or circuit A closer detached.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

On each locomotive, end at each station along the line are sending and receiving devices, together with two aerial poles, one for sending and the other tor receiving, these being generally in the formof metallic rods about one-fourth of an inch in diameter and as high as the tunnels, bridges and the like will permit.

The sending apparatus includes a vertical pole or conductor 10 and a liuhmkorfl' coil 11. one of the sparking poles being connected to the aerial conductor and 'the other, to a ground 12 which in the present instance takes thei'orm of a zinc box containing water. The primary ofthe coil is connected by a wire 15 to one pole of a source of energy 16, and the opposite pole of this source of energy is connected by a wire 17 to a. contact immediately undo-r a switch blade 18, the switch blade being normally out 'of engagement with the contact. From the fixed end of the switch blade runs a. wire 19 to the primary, the interrupter being arranged in the circuit as usual, and a condenser being employed if necessary.

The present apparatus is designed to send I. signal automatically as the train advances, that is to say, the

primary circuit of the induction coil will be closd every predetermined number of revolutions of the driving wheels, ioriustance fifteen revolutions, which would mean from fifteen to twenty signals every mile, in accordance with the diameter of the driving wheels.

For this purpose on automatic circuit closer is arranged adjacent to the. cross head, and receives a step by step movement as the 10m! head reciprocates'. This circuit closer includes a revoluble shaft 20 that is mounted vanced a single step at each complete reciprocatory nected to'the shalt by a spiral spring 28.

movement of said cross head. When so al anced the ratchet wheel is held by a spring pawl 26.

Mounted loosely on the shaft is a circuit closing drum 27, preferably formed-of insulating material and con- This drum carries on its periphery a radially projecting pin 29 which is engaged by a locking spring 30 that tends to hold it from movement under stress of the spring. A's the ratchet wheel is turned, the spring is wound up,

2i) and ii the locking member 30 is released, the drum is allowed to make one complete mtative movement as the spring unwinds.

Mounted on the shaft is a radially projecting arm 32.

having a cam-shaped outer end that engages under the iocl-zing member and raises such member from engagement with the pin 29, whereupon the drum revolves rapidly under the action of the spring 28,until a stofi'pin 33 projecting from the end of the drum engages against the cam arm 32 and stops further move 30 ment of said drum, this occurring in advance of the arrival of the pin 29 at the initial position and the con- ,tact of thepin 33 with the arm 32 will move said arm from below the stop member 30, so that the" latter will be in position to he engaged by the pin 29 and dteck 35 the movement of the circuit closer when it has made a single complete revolution.

Mounted on the drum 27 are two bands 36 and 37, formed of good conducting material, the band 37 being a trifle longer than band 36 for a purpose hereinafter 40..described. This band 367is engaged by two spring contacts 38 and 39, that are carried by a portion40 of the fixed frame, while the drum is rotating. the drum is at rest they bear on the surface of the insulating material of which the drum is formed, and hence no circuit is closed between them. The contact 38 is connected by a wire 41 to that pole of the battery or other source of energy opposite the connection of said battery with the primary oi the il'rduction coil, whil the contact 39in connected by a wire 43 with the fixed end of the switch blade 18 so that if the rovolnble drum is rotate-l, the circuit is closed in the some manner as it would be by-a depression of the blade 18 of the key or switch, and the primary of the induction coll will be energized for the purpose of sending a signal; and it 35 my here be remarked that the function of the switch is to enable the engineer or conductor to send a signal when the train is stopped, or to allow the engineer, condoctor or station master to send areadable message as by the Horse or othu' alphabet.

6 0 The ooherer, which is best shown in Fig. 2, comprises a strip 50 of insulating material, said strip carrying tworodoblandbil hovingthei: upperendsbentd a angle and imzoduced within the opposite ends When of a tube 53 formed of glass or other suitable material, the ends of the rods being seated within the tube L packings of any suitable material in order to make air tight joints. The interior of the tube between the two poles or hers is filled with metal filings of the ordinary character.

The opposite ends of the strip 50 are yiuldably supported, so that the coherer as a whole is free to move t'rorn side to side. These supports may be in the form of eyelets 54 secured at the opposite ends'of the strip, and auxiliary eyele s 5-5 that are ldSl(flL'tl'-iU the box or other inclosure, or any other suitable-supporting means, the pairs of eyelets being connected by cords 56 formed of any suitable material which will allow free motion of the coherer.

lhe decohercr in the present instance comprises an electro-rnagnet 60, the frame of the mogul-t carrying an armature 6], and the armature lever being extended down and terminating in a book 62 which surrounds the tube or outer portion of the cohort-r. The electromagnet and its armature are preferably mounted in much the same manner as the electro-inagnet and clapper carrying armature of an ordinary electric bell, so that when the electro-magnet is energized and the current is made and broken therethroughin the usual manner, the armature will be vibrated and its book, engaging some part of the coherer, will shake the latter rapidly to and fro for the purpose of loosening up the metal filings in the coherer tube. This is found in practice to be more effectual and certain in ts operation than the ordinary tappors such as are usually employed in the dccohoring operations. The serial receiving rod 65 is connected by a. wire 66 to one rod of the cohorer, and the opposite rod is connected by a wire 67 to a ground 63 which in this case is preferably in the form of a zinc box containing water. i

The receiving apparatus further includes a delicate relay 70, the coils of the relay being included in a circuit which may be traced from a battery 71 through a wire 72 to the rela y coil, from thence through a wire 73 to, the rod 51 of the coherer, the coherer, the wire 74, an electric bcll 75, through the coils of the bell and back through a wire 76 to the battery 71; This latter energizes the relay core when the particles ofmetal in the cohercr cling together when subjected to the octiorr of the wave, and the armature 77 of the relayv will be attracted against the stop 78, thereupon closing a circuit which may be traced from the battery 71 through a wire 80, the relay armature 77 stop 78, wire 81, the bell and wire 76 back to the battery.

The bell will thereafter continue to ring so long as the primary of the Ruhmkorff coil is connected to the sending battery, and in order that it may be stopped alter a certain number of taps, the clapper rod 84 of the bell is provided with a pawl 85 which engages). ratchet wheel 86 mounted at one side of the bell and carrying a circuit closing pin 87 which, when the ratchet wheel-has moved to theextent of a complete revolution, is adapted to engage: spring contact 88. This contact flfljl'arrlngedina circuit which may be traced from a battery 8910 electro-rnagnet dihldoooherer, wire 90, contact 88, pin 87, the ratchetwheel, the ratchet and.

wheel arbor 91, a wire 92 to battery 89, so that alter a certain nuuher of taps oi the bell depending on the number oi teeth of the ratchet wheel 86, the deeoherer will he set into opemtion and the message will be stopped.

In order to prevent the reception of an alarm by the hell of the sending station, the strip 37 oi the drum 72 is utilized. it will he seen by reference to Figs. '6 and 7 that this stop is engaged by two contacts 95 and 96, 10 which nornmily rest in the space between the ends of the current conducting strip. 'hen the drum is turning, however, these contacts will both be in engagement with the strip, and a circuit will be closed between them. The contact 95 is connected by a wire 97 to a 'wire 98 which leads to a wire 92 while the contact 9G is connected to the wire 90,'so that as soon as the drum starts to rotate, tlie eirduit oi the decoherer will he closed with its battery and the ileeoherer will start into operation, shaking the eoherer and preventing the reception of the signal. By making the strip 37 a trifle longer than the sending strip 36, the nonrcception of a message is positively prevented.

In order that the (lceoherer oi the sending station may he set into operation when 1i nn-ssage is being sent. manually, the c ntact 95 is.r -unnei.-teti by a wire 100 to the iixed end of a switch blade Ni, and the opposite contact 96 is connected by a wire 10;. to a contact immediately under such switch blade hit and normally out oi engagement therewith. The two switch blades are connected by a. cross l ar 104 formed of nonconduciing material and carrying 2. suitable handle,

5:; that. both may be moved to closed position or to open position at the some time, so that whenever the switch is depreast-(l for the purpose'oi energizing the primary circuit ot' the Ruhmkori'f coil, and sending a message, the deeoherer will he placed .in circuit with its battery and the coherer of the sending station will be prevented from responding to the message so sent.

The appsnitus may be installed at low cost. and all of the parts may be placed within a suitable box or 40 casing in order to protect them from exposure.

I claim:-

1. in a wireless slgnniln'; system for railways, m'atnl arried by the locomotive for propagating electrical waves or oscillations, n cuherer, an electrically operated llgnll controlled by ea d coherer, a decoherer. an opere .7. curcult for the latter, means on the locomoti=e and opcrlted thereby for closing the decoherer circuit du ing the propsgation of the electrical waves. and means controlled by the signai mechanism for closing the decohe'rer -circultnfter the signal has ceased to operate.

2. in J. wireless signaling system, u eoherer, a circuit therefor, an electro-msmecicaliy actuated member operated on the closing of the ci cuit through the coherer, a decoherer, a circuit therefor, kfldJlleti'lB operable after I. we 5 determined numher of movements of said member for closing the deeeherer circuit.

3. in upparutns of the class described, a drum of loan luring material, 11 pair of contuct hands carried thereby, a shaft or nrhor on which the drum is loosely mounted, a spring connecting the shaft and drum, means for impartin; a step by step movement to the shaft. a locking memher for holding the drum from rotntive movement, and a shaft. curried arm arranged to engage 1nd release said locking member. B5

4. In apparatus ot' the class described. a shaft, means for imparting step by step rotutive movement thereto, I. frame of insulating material mounted loosely on the shaft,

:1 pair of circuit closing hands mounted on the drum, :1 pin projecting: from the periphery of the drum. a locking memher engaging the pin. and an urm carried by the shaft and serving to more said locking member-to release position.

in :lppnrntl'lri of the class described, 1-. coherer, an alarm bell. n relny eireuiz closed ivy the eoherer. a battery circuit under the control of the r lay and connected to the hell, deeoherer, an independent buttery circuit therefor. and means under the control of the bell for closing the deeoherer circuit.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto niilxed my i-lgnnture in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH rt JONES.

Witnesses: V I

JuilX A. Helium, iltuu N. 'ALKER. 

